Cirencester mayor, Joe Harris, attacks Thames Water over flood prevention works in the town

CIRENCESTER Mayor Joe Harris has lambasted Thames Water as “morally repugnant” saying the company’s local flood defence work was inadequate and letting residents down.

Thames Water has been working with the Environmental Agency to tackle flooding in affected areas and told The Standard the Cirencester and South Cerney sewer system had been surveyed and cleared out at points where there were blockages and build-ups of debris.

That was not good enough according to Cllr Harris, who helped residents in the mopping up exercise as flood waters rose in Cirencester last November.

"They haven’t made any repairs and they haven’t found anything so it’ll probably happen again this winter or when we next get heavy rainfall," he said. “It’s really worrying – we need a review of the whole system.

“They’ve cleared the sewers out but that’s not addressing the problem."

A spokesman for Thames Water said as well as the maintenance, the company was continuing to monitor water flow in both Cirencester and South Cerney, which has also been badly affected by recent floods.

And he said the company would be contacting Cllr Harris to discuss his concerns.

Mike Stuart, chairman of South Cerney Parish Council, said he was confident Thames Water was doing 'everything it could' to help avoid any repeat.

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South Cerney was also badly affected by flooding last winter, but Mr Stuart said he was happy the water company was doing all it could to try and avoid any repeat.

"Since Christmas, we’ve had three or four meetings with them," he said. “Over the last three months, Thames Water has achieved all of their goals – usually under our guidance.”

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Comments (3)

Cirencester mayor, Joe Harris, attacks Thames Water over flood prevention works in the town

Iansky says...8:56am Thu 18 Jul 13

All about money......the large companies have a monopoly on supply and their shareholders take a higher priority than the welfare of those who suffered those horrible (and very smelly) floods last year. Unfortunately, they have been allowed to get away with these negative approaches for too many years and the government are completely gutless in their approach. Joe is right in his criticism and he is doing what the lame ducks before him should have done sooner - at least we have a mayor who actually speaks up for the people of the town and has concerns for them rather than just lining his own pockets and blaming others - thank you Joe, at last a man with a pair!

All about money......the large companies have a monopoly on supply and their shareholders take a higher priority than the welfare of those who suffered those horrible (and very smelly) floods last year.
Unfortunately, they have been allowed to get away with these negative approaches for too many years and the government are completely gutless in their approach.
Joe is right in his criticism and he is doing what the lame ducks before him should have done sooner - at least we have a mayor who actually speaks up for the people of the town and has concerns for them rather than just lining his own pockets and blaming others - thank you Joe, at last a man with a pair!Iansky

All about money......the large companies have a monopoly on supply and their shareholders take a higher priority than the welfare of those who suffered those horrible (and very smelly) floods last year. Unfortunately, they have been allowed to get away with these negative approaches for too many years and the government are completely gutless in their approach. Joe is right in his criticism and he is doing what the lame ducks before him should have done sooner - at least we have a mayor who actually speaks up for the people of the town and has concerns for them rather than just lining his own pockets and blaming others - thank you Joe, at last a man with a pair!

Score: 0

Olly Cromwell says...2:14pm Thu 18 Jul 13

This corporation tax dodging outfit known as Thames Water is based down the road in Swindon. Their Local Government Liaison officer is Huw Thomas and their CEO is Martin Baggs. Thought people should know.

This corporation tax dodging outfit known as Thames Water is based down the road in Swindon.
Their Local Government Liaison officer is Huw Thomas and their CEO is Martin Baggs.
Thought people should know.Olly Cromwell

This corporation tax dodging outfit known as Thames Water is based down the road in Swindon. Their Local Government Liaison officer is Huw Thomas and their CEO is Martin Baggs. Thought people should know.

Score: 0

David Broad says...1:12pm Tue 23 Jul 13

All good stuff but referring to my favourite author, David Vizard, didn't someone ought to identify the cause of the flooding, which sent floodwater into the sewer system? Tesco Kingsmeadow was within inches of being flooded, but when I went for a look see there was little obstruction to flow at the old Cricklade road bridge. However water was half a metre higher on the Ciren side of the bridge on the Siddington to Preston road than on the downstream side which incidentally sent flood water across to Siddington Village as well as hoolding back the water around Kingsmeadow and thus Cirencester in general. Maybe this recently rebuilt and totally inadequate bridge needs looking at, Or would you just prefer to exchange insults?

All good stuff but referring to my favourite author, David Vizard, didn't someone ought to identify the cause of the flooding, which sent floodwater into the sewer system?
Tesco Kingsmeadow was within inches of being flooded, but when I went for a look see there was little obstruction to flow at the old Cricklade road bridge. However water was half a metre higher on the Ciren side of the bridge on the Siddington to Preston road than on the downstream side which incidentally sent flood water across to Siddington Village as well as hoolding back the water around Kingsmeadow and thus Cirencester in general.
Maybe this recently rebuilt and totally inadequate bridge needs looking at,
Or would you just prefer to exchange insults?David Broad

All good stuff but referring to my favourite author, David Vizard, didn't someone ought to identify the cause of the flooding, which sent floodwater into the sewer system? Tesco Kingsmeadow was within inches of being flooded, but when I went for a look see there was little obstruction to flow at the old Cricklade road bridge. However water was half a metre higher on the Ciren side of the bridge on the Siddington to Preston road than on the downstream side which incidentally sent flood water across to Siddington Village as well as hoolding back the water around Kingsmeadow and thus Cirencester in general. Maybe this recently rebuilt and totally inadequate bridge needs looking at, Or would you just prefer to exchange insults?

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